What Is Dyadic Clinical Supervision?
As supervisors, one of our favourite things to do is to talk about client cases in a dyadic format. Solid, irrefutable answers are hard to come by in therapy. We wade through waters of grey on a daily basis and it can be overwhelming to conceptualise a case on your own.
By talking about your cases in a dyadic format, you not only get the perspective of the supervisor but also the valued perspective of your peer. Although individual and group clinical supervision certainly have its place, at OntarioSupervision.ca we have found that dyadic is the perfect blend of learning for new and upcoming therapists.
Dyadic Clinical Supervision
Dyadic supervision allows us to explore all the grey areas that make therapy so complex. Which intervention is best suited for this client? What should I do when a client talks to me in the mall? Who do I refer this complex client to that is beyond my scope? Easy answers are hard to come by in this field but dyadic supervision will get you as close as possible to the most right answer.
We are all taught that it’s important to not get lost in your own perspective. If we get used to using a similar tool across our therapeutic interactions, over time, we will put our clients into boxes and overlook what makes their story unique and what might be the best tailored-approach.
“If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.” Abraham Maslow
Dyadic supervision gives you access to a wide variety of tools so that you are never stuck using a hammer when a wrench would do just as well. By having a peer to consult with, it allows you to take a step back and analyze your own biases, appreciate blind spots and see things from a different perspective.
Group Clinical Supervision
One of the most common utterances in dyadic clinical supervision is “Wow, I never thought of it that way!” Sometimes the biggest insights can come in only a few seconds. Sometimes all it takes is a different perspective. But without talking about it, you will never get access to those different perspectives.
That is one of the beauties of clinical supervision. There is no such thing as a perfect therapist nor a therapist who ‘knows everything.’ We can all learn from one another whether we’ve been in the field 3 years of 23 years.
If you think dyadic supervision might be for you, send us an email. We can typically find you a dyad partner in a matter of weeks. As well, you can come to us with a dyad already and we can handle the rest.
Get the most out of clinical supervision. Rely not only on the expertise of the supervisor but of your valued colleagues as well.
